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Was The Detonation Of The Nuclear Bomb Justified?

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The use of the Nuclear Bomb to bring an end to WWII stands as one of the most controversial and significant decisions in modern history raising the question, Was the detonation of the Nuclear Bomb Justified? The Nuclear Bomb was developed as part of the Manhattan project by Robert Oppenheimer. Its purpose was to force a Japanese surrender, with the subsequent ending of the war. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945, marked the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare.This raised ethical and moral questions about the human and environmental consequences of their deployment, fuelling debates on disarmament, non-proliferation as well as the concept of mutually assured destruction. This cardinal decision on how to end the war plagued leaders of the …show more content…

Some believe that the bomb was the most efficient and ‘least abhorrent’ way to end WWII, while others believe the nuclear bomb was a tool used to influence the post-war world order and was completely unjustifiable. Central to the discourse surrounding the Nuclear Bombings are the contrasting viewpoints of traditionalists and revisionists, each offering distinct interpretations of the bomb's necessity and justifiability. The detonation of the nuclear bomb is a historical topic of debate. The traditionalist position is that the bomb was necessary to end the war. This is epitomised by President Harry Truman and his quote that “The atom bomb was no “great decision.” It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.” This reflects the prevailing view among military officials and policymakers at the time. Truman's opinion conveys the belief that the use of nuclear weapons was a justifiable tool to end the war, serving as a conclusive tool, forcing a Japanese surrender and bringing an end to

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Wilson D. Miscamble offers a clear and concise argument in favor of the use of the atomic bombs in The Most Controversial Decision: Truman, the Atomic Bombs and the Defeat of Japan. The title itself suggests at his main argument that the use of the atomic was necessary as a tool to defeat Japan. This argument will be reiterated many times throughout the book, with much evidence borrowed from other scholars who are on his side in this very popular debate. Miscamble takes much of the book to defend not only the bombings but also Truman’s role in them. By painting him as a passive politician who inherited the decisions that were to be made, the blame on Truman is lessened.

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Throughout the development of the atomic bomb and World War II, countries were forced to pick sides, and the bomb was seen as either a benefit or a detriment. However, In the book Trinity the author Jonathan Fetter-Vorm maneuvers through this by going into detail about the making and reasoning behind the production of the atomic bomb. He shows the effects and aftermath of the bomb and helps clarify some aspects of this war-stopping development. Directly targeting civilians was not a common move in previous wars. This, combined with the worldwide unease about the war are all discussed to create an understanding of why the United States made these major decisions.

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Was America right to use atomic weapons against Japan? The dropping of the atomic bomb in Japan at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was the end of WWII. However, there has been much conflict considering the use of the bomb. In this essay, I will discuss reasons from both sides of the argument and justify my opinion.

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In the sixty years since World War 2, President Truman 's decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan has been questioned by many people. The bombing caused many deaths but also clearly marked the end of the long drawn-out war. The justifications for the bombing are still however a widely discussed debate. Arguments supporting the justification of the bombing involve the President 's stern belief that the Japanese had brought it on themselves, and that the bombing would end the war and save many American lives. The counter-arguments were that the Japanese were already defeated and so ‘why was it necessary to drop the bomb?”.

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239 Words | 1 Pages

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628 Words | 3 Pages

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1840 Words | 8 Pages

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